ISO 22196 – Antimicrobial Plastic Test

ISO 22196 is an antimicrobial surface test that performs the measurement of antibacterial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces.

Based on the JIS Z 2801, ISO 22196 is a surface test generally used with standard bacteria that can be substituted depending on the needs of the customer.

The standard ISO 22196 test method is designed to test the ability of plastics and other similar materials to kill or prevent growth of microorganisms, over a 24 hour period of contact. Standard antimicrobial testing for ISO 22196 is against both organisms, S. aureus and E. coli.

ISO 22196 is one of the most commonly requested antimicrobial surface test methods for evaluating the antimicrobial activity of antibacterial-treated plastic products, including intermediate products. ISO 22196 for concrete was adapted to test antimicrobial performance of treated and non-treated concrete.

Antimicrobial plastics may meet the requirements of ISO 22196, however when conditioned in simulated environments, treated plastics may not continue to work as intended. It is important to incorporate environmental conditions into testing like UV exposure, humidity and the use of release agents that may affect the efficacy of an antimicrobial plastic. Durability testing when combined with ISO 22196 or other antimicrobial testing can provide important data on how a material will perform after exposed to conditions found in its intended environment.

Many customers will request durability testing in companion with ISO 22196 testing to determine a products antimicrobial performance against bacteria when exposed to environmental conditions. Utilizing both Durability and Antimicrobial testing through Situ Biosciences’ product test laboratory can support product development and performance testing, while reducing time and costs associated with developing and distributing quality products on the market. Furthermore, having a quality control testing program in place allows customers to continuously provide quality products and be confident that their product performs optimally batch after batch.

Additional Testing Information

Prevention of biodeterioration and odor are not evaluated by this method and this method is not used as a reference for biodegradability of plastics. Refer to pages regarding compostable plastic materials including ISO 16929 and ASTM D6400.